Honoring Your Work During Nurses Month: A Message From President Becky Williams: "For over a year, you have been on the frontlines of the COVID19 pandemic. I personally want to say thank you for your brave work during this unprecedented time of crisis." "As nurses, you have always been heroes — for your families and the public. I know you have seen the pandemic in a way not many would understand. You have also spoken out for protective equipment, hazard pay, and safe staffing, all while saving lives and providing vital care."

"The pandemic exposed long-standing problems in the nursing home industry that stem from chronic understaffing and underspending on care for residents — problems often motivated by owners who place profit-seeking above their residents' welfare." #Union newsday.com/opinion/corona… "Understaffing, for example, is possible — and profitable — because the U.S. regulatory system charged with ensuring that nursing homes provide safe care has failed." #SafeStaffingSavesLives

Breaking News: Today, working people and voters gathered in Huntington, West Virginia, in support of the home care provisions of the American Jobs Plan. #Union #CareIsEssential #CareCantWait @JoeManchinWV @Sen_JoeManchin Investing in our care infrastructure will create 6,000 good paying jobs in West Virginia and benefit consumers who need home-based care. #CareIsEssential #CareCantWait

"Staffing shortages were a problem in the industry long before the pandemic, but COVID-19 exacerbated the problem. Many workers left the field, and new workers were reluctant to take their place and risk getting sick." #UnionsForAll cincinnati.com/story/news/202… "COVID-19 made working in a nursing home one of the deadliest jobs in America, according to an analysis of federal data by Scientific American magazine."

Press Release | Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Members to Hold Press Conference as Negotiations With Management Continue. #Union

seiu1199.org/cincinnati-sta… “I am a product of Cincinnati State and graduated with an Accounting degree, in addition to a Supply-Chain Management degree,” said Melissa Scott, an Executive Board member with SEIU District 1199 and Purchasing Assistant at Cincinnati State since 1999.

"For supporters like Vikki Tully this would help keep people in the state who want jobs." #ThriveAct #TimeToThrive #Union
wsaz.com/2021/04/11/con… “My children all live in other states because there is nothing here for them, there is nothing there for them we need to have a reason for them to stay in their home state,” said Tully."

Union members with the Lorain Public Library System work every day on behalf of the public. Most recently, they have been providing a new service – scheduling COVID19 vaccination appointments. #Union seiu1199.org/lorain-public-… To date, library workers say that they have helped schedule as many as 2,000 vaccinations. Library workers are using an interface called ArmorVax to locate available appointments. The effort is just one of many services available to the public through their local library system.

"...when the pandemic hit, the staffing levels went from a strain to a crisis unto itself for many nursing homes." #ProtectAllWorkers #ProtectAllResidents #SafeStaffing #Union skillednursingnews.com/2021/03/staffi… "Over and over again, the witnesses testifying in the hearing emphasized that the issue of low staffing in nursing homes predated the pandemic — a point that was also made in one of the first hearings on the impact of COVID-19 in nursing homes in 2020."

Nina Turner is more than our endorsed candidate for Ohio's 11th Congressional District, she is our sister in the struggle for justice, equity, equality, and fairness. We are proud to stand with Nina Turner because she has always stood with us. #OH11 @ninaturner

Press Release | More than 800 Governors, Lt. Governors, Treasurers, Mayors, and other state and local elected officials call on Congress to pass President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.

seiu1199.org/press-release-… "The American Rescue Plan would help ensure the solvency of many public services at a time when they are needed most,” said Becky Williams, President of SEIU District 1199 WV/KY/OH and a Vice President of the Service Employees International Union Executive Board.

"Retired employees understood that health coverage was to be a continuing benefit for the retirees and certain spouses in the 62-65 age group with supplemental Medicare insurance with prescription coverage for the life of the retiree..." #Union dailyindependent.com/opinion/in-you… "Retirees are not in a position to start life over to attain health care coverage and may suffer financial hardship or improper care due to the change."

"Over one-third of Ohio nursing homes and long-term care facilities faced a shortage of direct care workers in January." #Union #ProtectAllWorkers #ProtectAllResidents cincinnati.com/story/news/202… "Kay Bishop is a state-tested nurse aide from the Cincinnati area who has worked in nursing homes for over 40 years. She said when a nursing home is low on workers, current workers often take on more responsibilities..."

"A longtime member of SEIU District 1199, which represents workers in multiple industries including nursing homes in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia, Bishop said she also wants workers to have a voice on the job through unions." #UnionsForAll cincinnati.com/story/news/202… "Kay Bishop is a state-tested nurse aide from the Cincinnati area who has worked in nursing homes for over 40 years. She said when a nursing home is low on workers, current workers often take on more responsibilities..."

"Some Cabell Huntington Hospital retirees and their families are speaking out after receiving a letter stating their supplemental Medicare insurance benefit will be terminated at the end of March." herald-dispatch.com/news/cabell-hu… “I may not have retired early if I knew there was a chance I would have to start paying for bridge coverage and then lose my supplemental benefits after that,” Doss said."

"Buffeted by covid-19, struggling with crumbling finances, one of America’s largest nursing home chains gave its CEO a $5.2 million “retention payment” in late October, just as the second big wave of the pandemic was rising." #UnionsForAll washingtonpost.com/business/2021/… "The Genesis board also agreed to give him an immediate $650,000 bonus and a $300,000 consulting contract, according to the filing. The company would not elaborate on the arrangement." #ProtectAllWorkers

Press Statement From SEIU District 1199 President Becky Williams on Nursing Home Workers and the Vaccination Effort for COVID19.

seiu1199.org/statement-from… “Nursing home workers in Ohio have long been understaffed, underpaid, and forced to work mandatory overtime."

Press Release | Nursing Home Workers Face Staffing and PPE Shortages as COVID19 Cases Increase Among Staff and Residents.

seiu1199.org/nursing-home-w… "Data shows persistent shortages of essential PPE items and staffing shortages continue as COVID19 cases increase in Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, and nationwide."

Press Release | Workers with Cabell Huntington Hospital Speak Out for Hazard Pay Amid COVID19 Pandemic Surge.

seiu1199.org/workers-with-c… “The workers with Cabell Huntington Hospital have been giving the response effort everything they have and they deserve to have their voices heard,” continued Gibson.

Press Release | Statement From Becky Williams, President of SEIU/1199 in Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky & International Vice President of the SEIU, on the Death of Casey Goodson Jr. seiu1199.org/statement-from… “I am outraged by the constant attacks on people of color in our country. People of color cannot walk on our streets or be a part of society without the fear of being profiled, attacked, brutalized or murdered."

"Seven people who work in Ohio prisons have died from COVID-19 and 1,232 have tested positive for it since Nov. 8, Joshua Norris, executive vice president of Service Employees International Union District 1199, said." vindy.com/news/local-new… "Norris, citing data provided on the Ohio Department of Health website, stated in a news release 2,932 staff members have tested positive overall."

Press Release | Statement on Recent COVID19 Cases Among Staff at Ohio DRC Facilities.

seiu1199.org/statement-on-r… "Between November 8th and December 9th reports from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction show that 1,232 staff members have tested positive for COVID19."